Cape Town — Lady Luck smiled twice on Orlando Pirates, who ran out 1-0 winners over AmaZulu in a Nedbank Cup first-round match at Orlando Stadium on Sunday afternoon, after a goalless first half.
AmaZulu were denied a first-half penalty after Pirates midfielder Goodman Mosele handled the ball twice in quick succession as he fell to the ground while trying to stop AmaZulu attacker Zambian Augustine Mulenga just inside the penalty area
The second slice of good luck came in the final minutes when AmaZulu's Abraham Majok missed a penalty.
Pirates grabbed the initiative from the start with a high-press game. They enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the opening half and were particularly penetrative down the flanks where their fullbacks frequently came into play.
After 20 minutes, they had exerted a fair bit of pressure on the AmaZulu defence, who conceded three corners during that stage. Pirates seem to trigger shy in the striking zone and on occasion when they looked like making a breakthrough AmaZulu's rearguard stood firm.
There were, however, two powder-puff shots that AmaZulu keeper Veli Mothwa gathered without raising a sweat. The Pirates quartet Olisa Ndah, Happy Jele, Paseka Mako and Thabang Monare who forced their way into the starting line-up all made their presence felt.
Pirates’ best scoring chance in the first half came in the fifth minute when a Deon Hotto corner flew across the AmaZulu penalty area. Mothwa came well off his line and missed the ball leaving Mosele, positioned unmarked opposite the far post, a free chance at goal. He headed the ball past the far upright with open goas in front of him.
In the 25th minute, the match came to a sudden halt when referee Masixole Bambiso stood with the ball in his hand as the players from both sides remonstrated with him. Pirates midfielder Mosele had made two handballs as he tried to tackle AmaZulu’s Mulenga on the edge of the Pirates penalty area.
Replays show Mosele falling after a slide-like tackle on Mosele. After he falls to the ground, the ball spills against his arm twice in quick succession. Once Bambiso allowed the players their fair share of remonstrating he decided to restart play with a drop ball rather than award AmaZulu a penalty. At no stage did Bambiso consult with his assistant referee.
It was not clear by Bambiso had blown-up play and the touchline TV experts were bewildered by Bambiso's decision to restart play with a drop ball.
Moments later, AmaZulu assistant coaches Siyabonga Nomvethe and Vasili Manousakis had a chance to voice their disapproval when Bambino was close to the touchline during a break in play.
Thembinkosi Lorch, who was partnering with Ghanaian Kwame Peprah in Pirates’ two-prong attack was prominent in many of his side’s attacks. He often dropped deep into midfield positions to spark attacks into the opposition half.
After a goalless first half, Pirates made their dominance count when they scored eight minutes after the restart through Namibian Hotto. A Pirates training ground sortie from a corner worked to perfection as Hotto combined with midfielder Thabang Monare for a one-two before he finished with clinical precision (1-0).
Following this setback, AmaZulu stepped up the ante and launched several attacks but failed to find the equalizer.
Near the end, Pirates dangerman came close to scoring his side's second goal but the Hotto’s earlier effort was enough to secure a Round of 16 berth.
IOL Sport